Feeding accounts for approximately 70% of total costs in livestock production, underscoring the need for cost-effective and high-quality alternative feed sources. Almond hulls (AHs), a byproduct of the almond processing industry, represent a promising option due to their availability and potential nutritional value. Moreover, their inclusion in animal diets contributes to a reduction in environmental waste associated with their disposal. This study examined the effects of incorporating 4% sodium hydroxide (NaOH)-treated AHs into the diets of Assaf sheep (rams, ewes, and growing lambs) on feed utilization and animal performance. The experiment evaluated the chemical composition of AHs, nutrient digestibility, sexual behavior and semen quality in rams, milk composition in ewes, and the performance of growing lambs fed diets with increasing levels of inclusion of AHs. A total of 60 ewes and 21 rams were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups, receiving diets containing 0%, 20%, or 40% AHs. NaOH treatment reduced the concentrations of organic matter and fiber fractions, while increasing the crude protein concentration of AHs (p < 0.01). Diets containing AHs did not affect nutrient digestibility (p > 0.05). Feeding a diet with 40% Na-OH-treated AHs significantly improved the daily weight gain (p = 0.002) of growing lambs up to 70 days after birth, and enhanced (p < 0.05) the libido, scrotal circumference, and semen quality of mature rams. In addition, ewes fed a diet containing 40% AHs showed (p < 0.05) improved fertility, prolificacy, and milk quality. NaOH-treated AHs are a cost-effective and sustainable feed ingredient that can improve reproductive performance and milk production, thereby increasing overall livestock productivity. The 40% inclusion level yielded the most favorable outcomes across all performance parameters evaluated in rams, ewes, and lambs.

Winter oats were grown according to European organic farming regulations in monoculture (oats) and in intercropping with bard vetch (BAV), bitter vetch (BIV) or both legumes (MIX) to evaluate the effects of intercropping on forage yield and nutritive value for ruminants. The experiment was carried out as a randomised complete block design with four replications, and whole forage samples were obtained at two harvest dates (June and July). For both harvest times, all intercrops increased (P < 0.05) forage yield compared with oats, but forage crude protein content was only increased (P < 0.05) for BAV and MIX. Compared with oats, intercropping with BAV increased (P < 0.05) in vitro rate of gas production and total volatile fatty acid production, indicating a higher rate and extent of rumen degradation of BAV forage. In contrast, BIV forage harvested in June had lower (P < 0.05) rate of gas production and total volatile fatty acid production than June oats, but in general no differences in the in vitro rumen fermentation were detected between oats and BIV samples harvested in July. The results indicate that forage yield and quality can be enhanced by intercropping oats with BAV; however, intercropping with BIV increased yield but decreased nutritive value of the forage.

This study evaluated the effects of replacing 25% of wheat straw with dried carob (Ceratonia siliqua) leaves and twigs, either untreated or treated with 5% sodium hydroxide (NaOH), on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, carcass traits, meat quality, blood metabolites, and rumen microbial populations in Assaf lambs. Twenty-four male lambs (2.5 months old; 29 ± 0.5 kg) were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments (n = 8): a control diet containing wheat straw as the sole roughage source, supplemented with a concentrate feed, a diet with 25% untreated carob leaves and twigs (UCL), and a diet with 25% NaOH-treated carob leaves and twigs (TCL). Following a 14-day adaptation period, lambs were fed the corresponding experimental diet for 14 weeks. Carob inclusion improved growth performance, with UCL lambs showing the highest average daily gain (214 g/d) compared with TCL (201 g/d) and control (160 g/d), resulting in improved feed conversion ratio (9.02 vs. 5.68 and 5.63, respectively) (p < 0.001). Blood urea nitrogen was reduced (p < 0.001) in UCL lambs (26.8 vs. 38.5 mg/dL in control), suggesting improved nitrogen retention. Digestibility responses differed between treatments (p < 0.001), as TCL increased dry matter digestibility to 72.6% compared with 65.4% (UCL) and 63.6% (control), indicating enhanced nutrient utilization following NaOH treatment. Both UCL and TCL increased (p < 0.001) carcass weights (up to 24.7 vs. 21.0 kg in control), while TCL achieved the highest dressing percentage (46.6% vs. 43.4%). Meat quality traits were generally unaffected in terms of color (lightness, redness, and yellowness) and water-holding capacity; however, shear force decreased from 33.6 N (control) to 30.0 N (TCL), indicating improved tenderness. Carob inclusion modified meat composition by increasing (p < 0.001) lipid content (12.0–12.2 vs. 9.6%) and improving fatty acid profile, with reduced saturated fatty acids (53.4–56.5 vs. 61.4%) and increased α-linolenic acid (2.04 vs. 1.58%), leading to a lower n-6/n-3 ratio (5.54–5.61 vs. 6.45). Rumen fermentation was also affected (p < 0.001), as carob diets increased total bacterial populations and reduced protozoal counts, suggesting shifts toward more efficient microbial activity. In conclusion, replacing 25% of wheat straw with carob leaves improved growth performance and feed efficiency, with untreated carob primarily enhancing nitrogen utilization and treated carob improving fiber digestibility and carcass yield. These findings support the use of carob by-products as a viable alternative feed resource, although responses depend on processing method and targeted production outcomes.

The effects of pelleting a total mixed ration (TMR) for dairy sheep were investigated in an experiment involving 24 lactating Assaf ewes, which were assigned to two groups and fed the same TMR ad libitum, offered either in pelleted (PTMR group, n = 12) or in unpelleted form (CTMR group, n = 12). The experiment lasted 28 days, during which feed intake, eating behavior (including meal frequency and size, meal duration, eating rate, between-meal interval), and milk yield were recorded daily. Body weight (BW) was recorded on days 1 and 28 and milk samples were collected on days 1, 8, 15, 22 and 28 for milk composition analysis. Blood acid-base status was determined at the beginning and at the end of the trial. Ewes fed the CTMR diet exhibited (p < 0.05) a higher meal frequency and longer meal duration, along with a smaller meal size and slower eating rate. However, feed intake in this group was less than that in ewes fed PTMR only during the final two weeks of the experimental period. Total eating time was also longer (p < 0.001) in the CTMR group, whereas the average time between meals was shorter (p < 0.002). No differences (p > 0.05) were observed between dietary treatments in blood acid-base status, milk yield or milk composition. However, a diet x day interaction (p < 0.05) was detected for milk yield, as during the last 2 weeks of the experimental period the ewes fed the PTMR yielded more milk than those fed the CTMR. Feed conversion ratio did not differ between groups (p > 0.05), but body weight loss was greater in ewes fed the CTMR diet (−3.00 vs. −0.58 kg; p < 0.05). A trend toward improved feed efficiency was observed in the PTMR group when calculated based on milk yield corrected for that theoretically derived from the mobilization of body reserves (1.98 vs. 1.41 g DMI/kg milk; p = 0.077), with estimated contributions from body reserves of 485 g/day in the CTMR group and 70 g/day in the PTMR group. In conclusion, the use of pelleted total mixed rations in high-yielding dairy ewes enhances feed intake, feed efficiency, milk yield, and energy balance without adversely affecting milk composition or animal health in the short term.

This study examined the effects of replacing 25% (P25) or 50% (P50) of concentrate dry matter (DM) with sun-dried carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) pods on growth performance, apparent nutrient digestibility, carcass traits, meat quality, serum biochemistry, and rumen microbiology in growing Assaf lambs. Twenty-four weaned male Assaf lambs (initial body weight [BW] 27.0 ± 0.5 kg; 2.5 months of age) were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments (n = 8 per group) in a completely randomized design and fed for 16 weeks. P50 achieved the highest ANCOVA-adjusted least squares mean final BW (53.0 kg) and average daily gain (ADG) (220.8 g/d), followed by P25 (51.1 kg; 203.3 g/d) and the control (46.2 kg; 160.2 g/d) (p < 0.001). Feed conversion ratio (FCR) improved from 8.99 in the control to 6.16 and 6.11 in P25 and P50, respectively, with no significant difference between the two carob-supplemented groups (p < 0.001). Apparent DM and organic matter (OM) digestibility increased with carob inclusion at both 3 and 6 months of age (p ≤ 0.0001). Cold carcass weight (CCW) was higher in carob-supplemented lambs (p < 0.001), whereas carcass muscle proportion did not differ among treatments (p = 0.688), and carcass fat proportion was higher in P25 than in the control (p = 0.039). Warner–Bratzler shear force declined progressively with carob inclusion (p < 0.001), indicating improved meat tenderness. Serum total protein was highest in P25, whereas blood urea nitrogen (BUN), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) decreased with carob inclusion (p < 0.001). Rumen pH was highest in P25 (6.40), total bacterial and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) counts increased, and protozoa counts declined (p < 0.001). Because carob pods replaced concentrate, rather than being added to an isonitrogenous diet, the combined effects of pods per se, reduced crude protein supply, and altered energy density must all be considered when interpreting the results. These findings support carob pods as a practical, locally available partial substitute for concentrate feed in Assaf lamb production under Mediterranean and Near Eastern conditions.